Attorney George Kirnon has announced his intention to contest the 24 October general election in Montserrat as a United Alliance candidate.
“The time has finally come for me to move from just being another concerned citizen to a citizen who now wishes to have a voice in the decisions which shape our country,” he said.
Kirnon, who previously served on the Public Service Commission and chaired the Montserrat Complaints Commission, spoke about his political move on ZJB Radio on 18 September.
“It was always an honour to be of service to Monstserrat by contributing to the improvement of good governance in the public service,” he said in the paid broadcast statement.
“But in doing so, over the last 10 years, I have come to recognise that despite all that we have said and despite all of the recommendations that have been made, things have remained the same.”
He said he and his colleagues fought from the outside to get the Montserrat Complaints Commission to fulfil the role which the constitution requires it to perform.
And now the body, which is critical to the good governance of the public service, no longer functions, Kirnon said, adding that there are unanswered questions as to why.
This together with an inability to address issues critical to Montserrat’s development convinced him to step forward, he said.
A track record
Kirnon worked for 25 years in economic development including roles with the Caribbean Development Bank and the CARICOM secretariat.
“My original career has been defined by innovation and creative thinking. I have a proven track record of bringing fresh ideas to the table and cutting through the red tape to get the job done,” he said.
He noted an “extremely slow pace” of progress and suggested that previous governments had preoccupied themselves with the allocating funds from a budget which has never been enough.
“Allocating such resources year after year has been an exercise in juggling figures to make ends meet,” he said, adding that Montserrat must seek innovative ways to chart its own destiny.
He pointed to failed leadership of the past governments, and said to stop the downward spiral Montserrat needs experience.
“I’m in this race because I bring much of what the country needs – development experience and the courage to try new solutions,” Kirnon said.
“Leadership which already knows the landscape of the region, which already knows the players, which knows how to get things done.”
He stressed that he will champion for non-nationals, and the youth as the “heartbeat of Montserrat’s future”, making sure they inherit a restored territory “where opportunity flourishes and hope reigns”.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article provides impartial coverage of political activities in the lead up to the 24 October general election in Montserrat.
It does not constitute an endorsement of any party or candidate.
